Free Journal:
The area that my group and I chose is called Al & Davis. It is located in a secluded area right off the Kalanianaole Highway. It is about 5 miles northeast of Sandy’s Beach Park. I believe that this area will be a good place to study for the r est of the semester because it is hidden from many modern things and humans. It is sort of like an area with 2 mini bays. Imagine Haunamua Bay but replace the reef with many pahoehoe rocks, and also the water is very shallow (about 2 feet deep at the most). I believe the both bays are filled with salt water. Also, I believe that this area is a good place to study because there are many organisms. As I walked on the rocks in the water I saw about 4 different types of fishes, 3 different types of snails on the rocks, 2 different types of birds, many little shrimp, and 2 different types of crab.
Assigned Journal:
There are many different organisms in the Al & Davis area. Organisms like 4 different types of fishes, 3 different types of snails on the rocks, 2 different types of birds, many little shrimp, 2 different types of crab, and many more that I have yet to encounter.
Niches:
-The fishes’ niches are that it lives in salt water. I realized that they use the rocks as shelter and protection from predators like birds. They probably eat algae in the water, other small fishes, or shrimp.
-The snail’s niches are that it lives in the holes of the rock. It uses the rock as shelter and a place for protection from predators. There were many different snails. I was surprised because I saw about 3 different types.
-The bird’s niches are that they live in the mangrove. It uses the mangrove for protection from predators such as wild dogs. Since the mangrove is located right next to an area filled with many different foods to eat, which is part of it’s niche too.
-The shrimp and the crab’s niches are that they live in the rocks close to/in the salt water. They eat small plants and animals in the water. They both use the rocks for protection against predators and shelter
Visit #2 (10/19/08)
Free Journal:
In our group I am assigned to abiotic factors and use of space. As I walked through my area I noticed that in some areas the water salinity varies. I wonder why. Is it because of the salt water and fresh water? Is it brackish water? Is there even fresh w ater in the area? Do the organisms control the salinity of the water? This are so me of the many questions I pondered upon.
Assigned Journal:
In our habitat there are many predator-prey relationships. Here is what I think the food chain is in our habitat (→ means eats). Wild Dogs → Birds → Snails/Fish/Crabs → Small Plants/Smaller Fish. There are many commensalism relationships too such as the relationships between the birds and the mangrove. The birds use the mangrove as shelter and protection against predators. Also the snails, fish, shrimp, and crabs all have a commensalism relationship with the pahoehoe rock. They use the rocks as shelter and protection against predators. The snails, fish, shrimp, and crab all compete for smaller fish and plants. There are many invasive species in the area. One for example is the mangrove. The mangrove has multiplied a lot throughout the area. It grows on the edge of the shore and it’s very wild. I tried to pull a small mangrove but it was way too tough and I wondered how Hawaii would get rid of this almost invincible invasive plant.
Visit #3 (11/9/08)
Free Journal:
In this visit I noticed some other things. I noticed that within this huge area that is called Al & Davis there are mini, small tide pools. In these tide pools there are a lot of fish and shrimp. Also if you turn a rock or two you can find a crab (by the way in this visit we encountered a huge crab. We named it “King Kong Krab”). I wonder about this mini, small tide pools. I asked myself, what do the shrimp eat? What do the fish eat? What about the crabs? What kind of water do they prefer, salt, fresh, or brackish water? The question list goes on and on.
I believe that all the water in the Al & Davis area is salt water because of the various types of fish we caught and observed. Also I believe that the organisms in the area do not control the salinity of the water. The salinity of the water controls them. The ancestor organisms have adapted to the certain area at Al & Davis and through many generations they have evolved into what we see them today. Also I believe that Al & Davis’s humidity affects the area not so much because it is isolated and what separates Al & Davis from society is the freeway.
Hypotheses:
-If you place salt water on a metal pan under the sun then over time it will eventually turn into salt because the water evaporates leaving the salt behind. (This hypothesis is to test if it is salt water or not)
-If you take organisms from various places of Al & Davis and place them into a new habitat in the area then the organisms will perish because the organism has adapted to a certain area. (This hypothesis is to test if the organisms are specialists or generalists and if they can change their niche to their situation)
-If you take different water samples from different areas and test it for its pH levels, then the closer the sample of water you took to the ocean, the lower the pH levels will be, because since there is a current that goes in and out, the pH levels fluctuate. (This hypothesis is to see if there is a difference between the different tide pools and their pH levels)
Assigned Journal:
Some examples of environmental pressures that drive some organisms into natural selection are that the fish in the area. Some fish have to be fast to our swim others and other fish have to be stealthy to help hide under rocks and blend into the habitat. The fish that cannot do these things and adapt to the area die off because they get eaten more. Also another example of an organism going through natural selection in the Al & Davis area is the snails. In there area there are many different types of snails with many different types of shells. Some have black shells while others have white, brown, and even red shells. These shells are the result of natural selection because since there are many different types of shells in many different areas, each species has adapted to its own area.
Visit #4 (12/7/08 & 12/14/08)
Free Journal:
In these two visits we encountered a lot of different organisms. One of the most interesting things that we met at Al & Davis was the different sea cucumbers. I believe we saw about 2 different kinds. Even though they all looked different, all their responses to us taking them out of the water were the same. They all shot out white stuff that was really sticky. Another thing that I noticed were all the different little hermit crabs. As a biologist we cracked open a couple of shells. They all looked alike. They had different shell shapes and colors (depending on their habitat) but underneath it all, they were the same. Another thing that my group and I did was exploring the edges of the rocks where the waves slam against. We saw many different organisms such as sea urchins and a’ama crabs. Also we even saw and picked out opihi (we ate it after, it was awesome!). Also I noticed a lot of brown foam around the still water areas. I wonder what it is and what caused it to be brown and foamy.
Experiments/Results
Tide Pool 1
(when i refer to the different areas/tide pools it's the next 3 photos that I'm talking about -- Used for all experiments)
Experiment 1 (Test if Salt Water) – Procedure:
1. Get 3 different bottles of water from different areas
2. Place water into 3 different pans under the sun
3. Let it sit for a while
4. In about 4-5 hours under the sun you will see results
• If you see little specs of salt within your pan you can conclude that the area you took water from is salt water
• If you don’t see little specs of salt within your pan you can conclude that that area you took water from is fresh water
Experiment 1 – Results:
I took water from 3 different areas and all areas were areas that consisted of salt water. I placed the pans with the water under the sun at about noon on 12/7 and when I came back to it at 4 p.m. all pans had salt within them. My hypothesis was correct and through the process of evaporation the liquid changed to vapor separating itself from the salt and leaving it in the pans.
Tide Pool 2
Experiment 2 (Test to see if different organisms of same family are specialists or generalists) – Procedure
1. Take a large amount of different organisms and place it into a different habitat
2. Take notes about how many different organisms are in each new habitat
3. Let the new organisms stay for a week
4. After a week, observe and compare the # of organisms you started with and ended with
Experiment 2 – Results
At our area there were many different types of hermit crabs. Some hermit crabs had black shells. Others had white shells and others had brown shells. I took all these different color of hermit crabs and placed them into a new habitat. After the experiment, all the white-shelled hermit crabs died. The brown and black-shelled hermit crabs adapted very well and the number of started/ended organisms was slightly different.
Tide Pool 3
Experiment 3 (Test to see if different there are different pH levels depending on area of tide pool)– Procedure
1. Collect water samples from different tide pools
2. Test each sample for the levels of pH in them (with pH strips or electronically)
3. Record Data
Experiment 3 – Results (pH levels)
Assigned Journal:
The there are many different carbon cycles in the Al & Davis area but I want to talk about the shrimp’s carbon cycle. The sun shines on the many different green plants that surround the Al & Davis area. The plants capture that sunlight and through photosynthesis create oxygen. That oxygen is distributed to all the many different organisms within the tide pool such as the algae. The shrimp eat the algae and when they poop that creates CO2, which is let out into the atmosphere. And that CO2, of course is sucked back into the plants through photosynthesis and the cycle repeats again and again.
Visit #1 (10/5/08)
Free Journal:
The area that my group and I chose is called Al & Davis. It is located in a secluded area right off the Kalanianaole Highway. It is about 5 miles northeast of Sandy’s Beach Park. I believe that this area will be a good place to study for the r est of the semester because it is hidden from many modern things and humans. It is sort of like an area with 2 mini bays. Imagine Haunamua Bay but replace the reef with many pahoehoe rocks, and also the water is very shallow (about 2 feet deep at the most). I believe the both bays are filled with salt water. Also, I believe that this area is a good place to study because there are many organisms. As I walked on the rocks in the water I saw about 4 different types of fishes, 3 different types of snails on the rocks, 2 different types of birds, many little shrimp, and 2 different types of crab.
Assigned Journal:There are many different organisms in the Al & Davis area. Organisms like 4 different types of fishes, 3 different types of snails on the rocks, 2 different types of birds, many little shrimp, 2 different types of crab, and many more that I have yet to encounter.
Niches:
-The fishes’ niches are that it lives in salt water. I realized that they use the rocks as shelter and protection from predators like birds. They probably eat algae in the water, other small fishes, or shrimp.
-The snail’s niches are that it lives in the holes of the rock. It uses the rock as shelter and a place for protection from predators. There were many different snails. I was surprised because I saw about 3 different types.
-The bird’s niches are that they live in the mangrove. It uses the mangrove for protection from predators such as wild dogs. Since the mangrove is located right next to an area filled with many different foods to eat, which is part of it’s niche too.
-The shrimp and the crab’s niches are that they live in the rocks close to/in the salt water. They eat small plants and animals in the water. They both use the rocks for protection against predators and shelter
Visit #2 (10/19/08)
Free Journal:
In our group I am assigned to abiotic factors and use of space. As I walked through my area I noticed that in some areas the water salinity varies. I wonder why. Is it because of the salt water and fresh water? Is it brackish water? Is there even fresh w ater in the area? Do the organisms control the salinity of the water? This are so me of the many questions I pondered upon.
In our habitat there are many predator-prey relationships. Here is what I think the food chain is in our habitat (→ means eats). Wild Dogs → Birds → Snails/Fish/Crabs → Small Plants/Smaller Fish. There are many commensalism relationships too such as the relationships between the birds and the mangrove. The birds use the mangrove as shelter and protection against predators. Also the snails, fish, shrimp, and crabs all have a commensalism relationship with the pahoehoe rock. They use the rocks as shelter and protection against predators. The snails, fish, shrimp, and crab all compete for smaller fish and plants. There are many invasive species in the area. One for example is the mangrove. The mangrove has multiplied a lot throughout the area. It grows on the edge of the shore and it’s very wild. I tried to pull a small mangrove but it was way too tough and I wondered how Hawaii would get rid of this almost invincible invasive plant.
Visit #3 (11/9/08)
Free Journal:
In this visit I noticed some other things. I noticed that within this huge area that is called Al & Davis there are mini, small tide pools. In these tide pools there are a lot of fish and shrimp. Also if you turn a rock or two you can find a crab (by the way in this visit we encountered a huge crab. We named it “King Kong Krab”). I wonder about this mini, small tide pools. I asked myself, what do the shrimp eat? What do the fish eat? What about the crabs? What kind of water do they prefer, salt, fresh, or brackish water? The question list goes on and on.
I believe that all the water in the Al & Davis area is salt water because of the various types of fish we caught and observed. Also I believe that the organisms in the area do not control the salinity of the water. The salinity of the water controls them. The ancestor organisms have adapted to the certain area at Al & Davis and through many generations they have evolved into what we see them today. Also I believe that Al & Davis’s humidity affects the area not so much because it is isolated and what separates Al & Davis from society is the freeway.
Hypotheses:
-If you place salt water on a metal pan under the sun then over time it will eventually turn into salt because the water evaporates leaving the salt behind. (This hypothesis is to test if it is salt water or not)
-If you take organisms from various places of Al & Davis and place them into a new habitat in the area then the organisms will perish because the organism has adapted to a certain area. (This hypothesis is to test if the organisms are specialists or generalists and if they can change their niche to their situation)
-If you take different water samples from different areas and test it for its pH levels, then the closer the sample of water you took to the ocean, the lower the pH levels will be, because since there is a current that goes in and out, the pH levels fluctuate. (This hypothesis is to see if there is a difference between the different tide pools and their pH levels)
Assigned Journal:
Some examples of environmental pressures that drive some organisms into natural selection are that the fish in the area. Some fish have to be fast to our swim others and other fish have to be stealthy to help hide under rocks and blend into the habitat. The fish that cannot do these things and adapt to the area die off because they get eaten more. Also another example of an organism going through natural selection in the Al & Davis area is the snails. In there area there are many different types of snails with many different types of shells. Some have black shells while others have white, brown, and even red shells. These shells are the result of natural selection because since there are many different types of shells in many different areas, each species has adapted to its own area.
Visit #4 (12/7/08 & 12/14/08)
Free Journal:
In these two visits we encountered a lot of different organisms. One of the most interesting things that we met at Al & Davis was the different sea cucumbers. I believe we saw about 2 different kinds. Even though they all looked different, all their responses to us taking them out of the water were the same. They all shot out white stuff that was really sticky. Another thing that I noticed were all the different little hermit crabs. As a biologist we cracked open a couple of shells. They all looked alike. They had different shell shapes and colors (depending on their habitat) but underneath it all, they were the same. Another thing that my group and I did was exploring the edges of the rocks where the waves slam against. We saw many different organisms such as sea urchins and a’ama crabs. Also we even saw and picked out opihi (we ate it after, it was awesome!). Also I noticed a lot of brown foam around the still water areas. I wonder what it is and what caused it to be brown and foamy.
Experiments/Results
Experiment 1 (Test if Salt Water) – Procedure:
1. Get 3 different bottles of water from different areas
2. Place water into 3 different pans under the sun
3. Let it sit for a while
4. In about 4-5 hours under the sun you will see results
• If you see little specs of salt within your pan you can conclude that the area you took water from is salt water
• If you don’t see little specs of salt within your pan you can conclude that that area you took water from is fresh water
Experiment 1 – Results:
I took water from 3 different areas and all areas were areas that consisted of salt water. I placed the pans with the water under the sun at about noon on 12/7 and when I came back to it at 4 p.m. all pans had salt within them. My hypothesis was correct and through the process of evaporation the liquid changed to vapor separating itself from the salt and leaving it in the pans.
Experiment 2 (Test to see if different organisms of same family are specialists or generalists) – Procedure
1. Take a large amount of different organisms and place it into a different habitat
2. Take notes about how many different organisms are in each new habitat
3. Let the new organisms stay for a week
4. After a week, observe and compare the # of organisms you started with and ended with
Experiment 2 – Results
At our area there were many different types of hermit crabs. Some hermit crabs had black shells. Others had white shells and others had brown shells. I took all these different color of hermit crabs and placed them into a new habitat. After the experiment, all the white-shelled hermit crabs died. The brown and black-shelled hermit crabs adapted very well and the number of started/ended organisms was slightly different.
Experiment 3 (Test to see if different there are different pH levels depending on area of tide pool)– Procedure
1. Collect water samples from different tide pools
2. Test each sample for the levels of pH in them (with pH strips or electronically)
3. Record Data
Experiment 3 – Results (pH levels)
Assigned Journal:
The there are many different carbon cycles in the Al & Davis area but I want to talk about the shrimp’s carbon cycle. The sun shines on the many different green plants that surround the Al & Davis area. The plants capture that sunlight and through photosynthesis create oxygen. That oxygen is distributed to all the many different organisms within the tide pool such as the algae. The shrimp eat the algae and when they poop that creates CO2, which is let out into the atmosphere. And that CO2, of course is sucked back into the plants through photosynthesis and the cycle repeats again and again.